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Obama has little choice but to drift toward centre

JOHN IBBITSON

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:17 AM EST 07/07/08

Conservative Democrats may have his fate in their hands, which is why he's steering 'safe' on guns and national security ...Read the full article

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  1. Festina Lente from United States writes: Obama will say anything and do anything to get elected. It's becoming quite clear as we approach the elections.

    John Ibbitson has proved over and over again that he is not qualified to write and comment on the American political scene. I follow most all his articles and he just turns out filler material. He lacks objectivity and insight!

    Malcolm McCallum in Florida.
  2. Captain Pugwash from Canada writes: Tony Blair 2.0
  3. Howard Young from Canada writes: All politicians in North America try to ride the middle of the road; however, more so in Canada than the U.S.

    If there was support for an NDP equivalent in the U.S., Republicans would have to be more moderate and Democrats would be free to be a little left leaning.
  4. Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes:

    If only McCain could drift away from the center...

    It's too late to avoid this train wreck in November.

    Jimmy Carter in '08!
  5. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: This guy is turning into one of the biggest political fraud's I've seen in my more than 40 years of following politics. Quite frankly he's a disgrace.

    Everybody expected that he would move to the right after he locked up the nomination because that's where the American electorate is, but his complete about-face right across the board has been a slap in the face to the many people who propelled him to the nomination over the front-runner, Hilary Clinton.

    There's moderating one's views to appeal to a broader constituency, but this is more like a capitulation. What happened to the candidate for change??? His new campaign slogan should be - I'm the candidate of the status quo!

    Talk about a cynical exploitation of the electorate. Is it any wonder the level of participation in American elections is so low!!
  6. steve allan from Welland, Ontario, Canada writes: Oh by the way Mr. Ibbitson, Obama is not drifting to the centre, he's drifting to the right.
  7. Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes:

    At least we get to keep all our bases in Iraq though.

    ( Provided the civil war thing doesn't happen )
  8. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Good point Steve Allan. The potential for power corrupts and the potential for absolute power corrupts absolutely. :-)
  9. George Lucas from Canada writes: Each year 30,000 people in the US are killed by hand guns, either because of murder or suicide. Obama's shift in position in order to garner more votes has made me lose all respect that I had for him.
    The US is so far behind the rest of the developed world in so many areas such as gun control, climate change and health care, it is hard to believe the US is not a banana republic sometimes.
  10. Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes:

    George Lucas from Canada writes:

    "...The US is so far behind the rest of the developed world in so many areas such as gun control, climate change and health care, it is hard to believe the US is not a banana republic sometimes."

    Admittedly, the USA is behind Canada on the taxation of climate control, and behind Nicaragua in medical research, hospital care and our space program.

    But give us time....we'll one day rise to greatness...I swear!
  11. A J from Canada writes: I can see that for each and every voter there may be some changes in a candidate's position that cause the voter to say, "Enough! I won't vote for that person now."

    McCain has run into that problem with the Latino community. Many people liked his initiatives on immigration reform. When he backed off from that position in order to attract the support of those who were anti-immigration, his support in the Latino community dwindled. Last polls I saw put Obama at 60%, McCain at about 23%, with 16% undecided.

    And some Obama supporters have disagreed vehemently with his support of FISA.

    Overall, though, I question to what extent voters turn against candidates on this basis. CNN did a poll on this recently, which showed this:

    61% of voters thought McCain has changed his positions for political reasons. 37% said he didn't.

    59% of voters thought Obama has changed his positions for political reasons. 38% said he didn't.

    The voters polled were asked what they thought of the candidates, and by and large they liked them--even though a majority thought each of them had changed positions (or "flip-flopped" if you're still using that ancient terminology).

    I look not just at how the candidates line up on issues that concern me, but also at the qualities that a candidate brings. Thus, for me, no matter what statements McCain makes about issues during the campaign, I'd never vote for him. He's too emotionally unstable and too hot-tempered to be a good President. I'll take Obama--with his flawed position on FISA--over McCain any day of the week. Obama is intelligent, rational, stable, and a man of calm temperament--something we need in the White House, asap.
  12. Festina Lente from United States writes: George Lucas from Canada: True, there are many ills in the US but as to crime stats you will find Canada is trending alittle higher than US in overall crimes. How crimes are reported, prosecuted and data collected differs becasue Canada is a lot softer on crime. Isn't it so? As to "health care" the American multifacted system has many ills and cost 2 to 3 times over Canada. I, for one, pay nothing and have health care for life in any facility for myself and spouse. Those without insurance plans still have a safety net just like those in Canada where health is rationed and where one waits up to 17 months for by- pass operations in Kamloops, BC which services a vast area in the Okanagen valley. Yet, CHS, relies on US border hospitals from Washingon to Maine because of lack of Canadian expansion. All true and especially in the birthing of Canadian babies! All true if you read the G?M! Now, I say again, we have many ills in many of our systems but the US does have a leading edge in medical science and technology...an indisputable fact. Please correct me if I have posted something inaccurate. Cheers. Malcolm McCallum in Florida.
  13. 20 20 from Canada writes: It's not "Adrianna" Huffington, but Arianna Huffington. The article she's quoted from, "Seven Things Barack Obama Should Do to Keep from Blowing It", is worth reading:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/eight-things-barack-obama%5Fb%5F110549.html

    Another good article that raises doubts about Obama's progressiveness is "Obama’s Chicago Boys" by Canadian journalist Naomi Klein:

    http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/14/9623/
  14. Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes:

    Eloquence behind a teleprompter speaks volumes about the character and qualifications of a candidate to me as well.

    Nothing else matters.
  15. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: Praise your concept of a supreme being and pass the ammunition. When society has it's members responsible for their actions, true progress will happen. Baaaans merely validate the sheep/lemming social engineering experiment that has failed with disastrous results.
  16. Mitzi Maggie from Oakville, Canada writes: Obama should drfift back to Illinois. He will lose against McCain.
  17. Ann Coulter for President from United States writes: George Lucas from Canada writes:
    The US is so far behind the rest of the developed world in so many areas such as gun control, climate change and health care, it is hard to believe the US is not a banana republic sometimes.

    Is that why patients from Canada are constantly being evacuated to hospitals across the border because of lack of bedspace, the scarcity of diagnostic equipment, and lack of specialists?
  18. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Just read a news story that Obama wants a standing Army and Marine Corps of 750,000 active troops.

    Bush is pushing up the numbers now because McCain wants 900,000.

    When America is down, they are the most dangerous.

    Obama is a militarist and isolationist like Canada has never seen.
  19. John Melnick from High River AB, Canada writes: Sure makes you wonder. A Democrat who believes that gun control means hitting what you aim at .........................
  20. A J from Canada writes: Ben SGT/USMC from United States writes: Eloquence behind a teleprompter speaks volumes about the character and qualifications of a candidate to me as well. Nothing else matters.

    _______
    Oh, my--have you drifted into sarcasm here, Sgt. Ben?

    I suspect that you are not referring to McCain's eloquence behind a teleprompter. I've watched videos of him giving speeches with the use of a teleprompter, and "eloquent" isn't the word I'd choose to describe his presentation.

    Barack Obama actually is eloquent--it isn't just a case of being talented in delivering a speech with the aid of a teleprompter. He's a gifted writer, and a gifted speaker. Now, that doesn't mean that his ideas will suit every voter. America is a big democracy, and a robust one, so there will always be differences of opinion.

    As an Obama supporter, I find myself rather encouraged when I run into comments that suggest people are still under-estimating Obama. The Clinton campaign under-estimated him, and came to regret it. It would be nice to think that the McCain campaign under-estimates him, but, nah--probably not any more.
  21. M Poland from Calgary, Canada writes: Steering is it?
  22. George Lucas from Canada writes: Festina Lente from United States writes: Non violent crimes are trending up in Canada which is true, but violent crime is extremely low compared to the US. For example in Toronto last year there were about 75 murders for a city of 2.6 million people. How does that compare to Chicago, Los Angeles or Dallas? If there are less than 400 murders per year in Chicago it is an achievement, in Toronto, if there were 100 murders in a year it would be a national calamity. One or our biggest problems are handguns, that are smuggled in from the U.S. Get rid of them, the War of Independence, the Spanish American War, the Civil War are all over, you do not need to be armed to the teeth. Your Constitution was written 200 years ago and parts of it clearly were meant to deal with situations that existed during the post Independence period, not today. Our health care is not perfect,but we do not have deductibles, and people are losing their homes, because they need medical care. No matter how rich or poor you are, you have health care. This is not the case in the US. Who do you work for, it seems unusual that you have free health care. There will always be screw ups in our system, but if you took a survey and asked Canadians if they wanted to switch to an American system, basically user pay, with much higher perscription drug charges, the response would be an overwhelming no. The Medical and Drug lobbies pay hundreds of millions to maintain the status quo in the US.
  23. Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes: What he's missing is that the 30% of undecided or "independents" aren't all in the middle of the political spectrum. A lot of them are just disgusted with typical politicians and want to vote for "change".

    Obama had that vote for a fleeting moment, but he's showing his true colours now.

    I've said all along that McCain will win this after Obama sells out. It's beginning now.
  24. bill johnson from Quebec, Canada writes: Festina...John Ibbitson is an excellent writer. Sometime I agree, sometimes not, but I think while reading his stories.
  25. Edgar Allen Poe from No City, Canada writes: From the New York Times of all places: http://tinyurl.com/3sot68 July 3, 2008, 2:28 pm Obama Might ‘Refine’ Iraq Timeline By Jeff Zeleny Update | 7:50 p.m.: FARGO, N.D. This morning, he answered the question like this: “My 16-month timeline, if you examine everything that I’ve said, was always premised on making sure that our troops were safe. I said that based on the information that we had received from our commanders that one to two brigades a month could be pulled out safely, from a logistical perspective. My guiding approach continues to be that we’ve got to make sure that our troops are safe and that Iraq is stable. I’m going to continue to gather information to find out whether those conditions still hold.” In the afternoon, this is how he addressed the same topic: “I’ve also said that I would be deliberate and careful in how we got out, that I would bring our troops home at a pace of one to two brigades per month and that pace would have our combat troops out in 16 months. That position has not changed. I have not equivocated on that position, I am not searching for maneuvering room with respect to that position.” “Let me be as clear as I can be, I intend to end this war,” Mr. Obama said. “My first day in office I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in and I will give them a new mission and that is to end this war – responsibly, deliberately, but decisively.” The comments are telling as well. Many are regretting not voting for Hillary now. Remember he was supposedly the only candidate against the war and said he wouls end it upon being elected. How do you end a war? I thought you could only win or lose a war?
  26. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes: I will give them a new mission and that is to end this war – responsibly, deliberately, but decisively.” The comments are telling as well. Many are regretting not voting for Hillary now. Remember he was supposedly the only candidate against the war and said he wouls end it upon being elected. How do you end a war? I thought you could only win or lose a war?

    yes Edgar,
    you lost 5 years ago................. and do you remember VIETNAM ?

    ........ or were you doing the same drugs as GW ?
  27. Bill Weston from Grand Rapids, MI, United States writes: Obama lost all credibility as far as Im concerened, as the candidate of change when he prostrated himself to the Florida Cuban lobby a couple weeks back vowing never to lift the archaic embargo against Cuba. At that point he showed himself to be just another political prostitute. But that in no way means that I will give Bush a third term by voting for McCain either. A pox on both your houses! Once again I'll be voting third party.
  28. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes: Edgar Allen Poe from Canada wrote:
    "I will give them a new mission and that is to end this war – responsibly, deliberately, but decisively.” The comments are telling as well. Many are regretting not voting for Hillary now. Remember he was supposedly the only candidate against the war and said he wouls end it upon being elected. How do you end a war? I thought you could only win or lose a war?

    yes Edgar,
    you lying cons created and lost THIS war 5 years ago............
    .................... just like VIETNAM ?
  29. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes: the archaic embargo against Cuba ?????
  30. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes:
    Edgar Allen Poe from Canada wrote:
    "I will give them a new mission and that is to end this war – responsibly, deliberately, but decisively.” The comments are telling as well. Many are regretting not voting for Hillary now. Remember he was supposedly the only candidate against the war and said he wouls end it upon being elected. How do you end a war? I thought you could only win or lose a war?

    Edgar,
    buy a newspaper ...........
    Ron Paul is against the war
    ............. and likely to be shot by another cowardly Republican
  31. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes:
    Obama will only lose ............
    ............ after the Replubicans and the conservative US media "fix" the election again
  32. The Last Honest Conservative from Western, Canada writes:
    Ed Long from white Rock wrote:
    Obama is a militarist and isolationist like Canada has never seen.

    Sure Ed ......... and Bush was a pacifier and a uniter

    keep smoking that BC crack ...............
  33. Joseph Whistle from Canada writes: Obama does what he needs to do. There are too many stupid gullible people that he can't afford to miss out on. The right wing zealots will exploit any weakness they can find. You can see that by most of the pathetic responses right here on this forum.
    Obama '08 !
  34. Joseph Whistle from Canada writes: By the way. This article doesn't contain any quotes of what Obama actually said. It's all about what other people are saying. Highly biased and single minded. Propaganda pretty much.
  35. Some Guy from Canada writes: Obama and the Democratic Party are spineless imps. It matters not who wins this election because the policies will be the same.
  36. 4Cryin Outloud from Canada writes: Obama once elected to run for the Democrats inevitably would end up on the corporate, presidential rehab program. The's no way any world leader stating he/she thinks that "It's time for change" can be allowed to stay on those drugs. Why does anyone expect something different?

    When the people gave their power and money to the business world and allowed the elected to render us impotent we set ourselves up for endless disappointments that WILL end in a revolution. The critcal mass is building!
  37. George S from Toronto, Canada writes: What a dissapointment since he seems to be renengging on his former platform for starting to implememnt gun control in certain areas. As an outsider of the US- and a great fan of this neighbor- I thought at last a politician who is more progressive about gun control. Gun control won't end violence but it will seriously lower the American murder rate and save millions in health care.
  38. Lalo Lad from Toronto, Canada writes: So to all the naive voters who thought Obama was no Hillary guess what? You were right! He doesn't have breasts, he doesn't have experience and he doesn't have Bill. As for being an ambitious flip flopper who would say anything to get elected, well, you didn't have to wait til the convention to have your heart broken. I love politics.
  39. Robert Bland from Calgary, Canada writes: Obama and McCain are going to drift wherever their pollsters tell them to go.

    That's what democracy's sll about, isn't it?
  40. Anuradha Bose from ottawa, writes: So much for all the naive Yanks who followed him like sheep including the press. This is Tony Blaire minus the I.Q!
  41. George Nikitin from Hamilton, Canada writes: Kinda funny my Dad is all about Obama. Obama has been preaching this 'change,' but what kind of change is he talking about? Empty and insubstantial? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
  42. SN Dream from Canada writes: Joseph Whistle from Canada writes: Obama does what he needs to do. There are too many stupid gullible people that he can't afford to miss out on. The right wing zealots will exploit any weakness they can find. You can see that by most of the pathetic responses right here on this forum.
    Obama '08 !
    -------------------------
    Well, he did manage to get a lot of gullible people to vote for him in the primary. Well, all those young adult who voted for him will be better voter next time. No matter how smart one are, getting fooled is 1 experience in life that can't be substitute by education.
  43. J F from Canada writes: Obama and the politics of CHANGE
    Change his mind
    Change his position
    Change with the polls
    Change his story
  44. David Simon from Canada writes: Can Obama be a complete phony?

    Yes he can!
  45. S Rankin from Canada writes: The problem is the center is no longer the center. It has been yanked to the far right by the Repugs and the American press. Kind of like moving the goal posts. This is why abortion and gun control is no longer debated. Those battles have been lost. Abortion will soon be illegal in the US after the far right gets to make one more appointment to the supreme court of a conservative judge. The Democrats are pathetic. Even when polling shows that a clear majority of Americans want change (such as ending the mess in Iraq) the Democrats are laying claim to a center that 40 years ago would have been considered fringe fascist. What America needs is the same as what Canada needs. A new and relevant third party.
  46. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Now you people know why Hillary hung around as long as she did--

    If anybody knew that Obama was a fraud, it was her.

    I bet the number of Obama supporters who are becoming disgusted more than exceed the number she would have needed to win the nomination.

    Once again the US bypasses the best choice and selects a bag of sh!t. This time it was at the leadership level.

    Funny thing is, we did the same with the LPC selection.......
  47. Jan Burton from Toronto, Canada writes: McCain will win this election EASILY. Why? Iraq.

    Obama played up his anti-war stance back when the war was going badly. But things have changed in Iraq now. Many of the Sunnis have switched sides and joined the US, the surge has produced results, and casualties are way down.

    It will be very hard indeed for Obama to play the "end the war" card now. McCain will frame the issue in the context of Obama abandoning a war that is going well, of wasting all the lives that have been lost. Americans will respond to that.
  48. Winston Churchill from London, Canada writes: This is why, of course, experience is a factor in elections. You know what you're buying -- a candidate has a history. 'Drifting toward the centre' is selling out otherwise. How low is Obama willing to limbo? That's the question. We knew how low Hillary would go (support for the war etc.) but on some issues she wouldn't budge (health care). We know how far McCain will go, but on some issues (Iraq) he won't move. With Obama, the US might be buying tomorrow's man. They might also be buying a young Senator, full of nice words, who's really same old, same old. Think JFK.
  49. Kevin McDougald from Winnipeg, Canada writes: There's a huge international poll that has been going on for years called the World Values Survey, conducted with people from countries all over the world.

    One of the questions asks would-be voters to position themselves on the political spectrum, with a '1' being furthest to the left and a '10' being furthest to the right.

    As with most countries, the findings from the U.S. show that the largest number of voters (51%) position themselves in the middle of the spectrum, scoring themselves a '5' or a '6'.

    Only about one-third (32%) rate themselves as further right than a '6', with two-thirds of these being only a '7' or an '8'.

    Only 17 percent rate themselves as being further left than a '5', again, two-thirds of these left-leaners rating themselves a '3' or a '4'.

    Winning over a good part of the centrist vote is the key to winning elections, in the U.S. and elsewhere.
  50. Mark H from Columbus, IN, United States writes: Things I can think of, just off the top of my head, that Obama has either flip-flopped on, or outright lied about:

    His support for the DC gun ban
    * His Iraq timeline, which isn't even a timeline anymore
    * His relationship with Tony Rezko
    * His relationship with Bill Ayers
    * His duplicity on NAFTA
     FISA

    Yeah, lots and lots of change. Just the wrong kind.
  51. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    I supported Hillary, even though as a Canadian I have no voye. I would love her to clone herself and lead our CPC--she would be PM for 20 years.

    I have a question for Americans who might have more insight than me--

    Will Obama's 'shift' (what an ugly word) alter the voting intentions of Hillary's people? My feeling is that Hillary's bloc will be disgusted and be more inclined to support McCain.

    I'm interested to to what others think.
  52. Bilderbergers beware you've robbed your last grave from Canada writes: JDL, APAC, NRA, and every other large lobby group has already got their nails in him. He doesn't stand a chance....

    LACKEY
  53. Gizella Oehm from Toronto, Canada writes: Obama's change of direction on some issues is sad to see - we do so hope for that 'honest, principled' politician - but hardly surprising. He thoroughly reminds me of that Robert Redford character in 'The Candidate', a film from the '70s. Same idea - idealistic, 'dark horse' candidate who in the process of campaigning is corrupted. This is why modern politics are so dispiriting. Sometimes one can but yearn for a monarch - to vicariously enjoy the royal lifestyle, applaud good policies, shrug about the bad ones, with the hopes that the heir will do better. But that's a whole other slippery slope.
  54. Professional30smthg in TO from Canada writes: What the hell is he doing? All the polls have him leading already by a wide margin. People are responding to his "change" message. This 'drift to the center / right' is not necessary and seems to be a political mistake.

    Dumb!
  55. Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes: When Obama said a vote for him was a vote for change few realized he meant continuous flip flop flip flop like a sheet flying in the breeze of special interest appeal. The Obamamaniacs must be dizzy from doing 180's and 360's since the run up. You gotta give him credit though. He knows the attention span of his following cult. Everything he ever voted down he was now always for and what ever he was for he's now against and the Obamamaniacs never question their cult master. All is truth. Especially the B.S.
  56. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: Professional30smthg in TO from Canada writes: What the hell is he doing? All the polls have him leading already by a wide margin. People are responding to his "change" message. This 'drift to the center / right' is not necessary and seems to be a political mistake.

    ----

    Agreed. Especially the position on FISA. What was wrong with the law beforehand? The compromise basically allows a violation of the 4th amendment.

    Obama's strength is to mobilize people who haven't previous voted because the feel alienated from the political process. He is actually demobilizing his base to be more acceptable to people who won't vote for him anyway.

    This seems to be foolish in the extreme. This only emboldens the discredited Republicans.
  57. uncle rukus from Mississauga, Canada writes: So all these genuises in these posts think that a politician running for office who opposes the 2nd amendment right for Americans to bear arms and tacks every argument to the left is going to win the presidency and oh I forgot to mention he is black. Wow so he running his campaign different than Kerry and Gore and Dukasis and somehow he is going to lose the election. Unfortunatley alot of you don't know that if he even has a prayer in Colorado, Michigan. Pennslyvinia, Florida, Wiscosin and alot of the other Purple to swing states he has to appeal to thier ideals. And running like a Mass. liberal will get nothing but a McCain win in November. Funny the same kooks who mention Clinton fail to realize he did the same thing when he ran in 92. So what did you think that this campaign would be run by MoveOn.org.....impeach Bush....abolish the 2nd amendment....put all the telecommunication execs in jail for FISA....withdrawn all troops from Iraq immmediately..... The Obama team knows what they are doing and unlike his oppenents he does not need to keep re-shuffling his team every 6-8 months or so like Clinton and McCain. And a little secret for you haters of Obama see that US economy if it stays this bad in October Repubs are finished this will be a landslide for Obama. Yes Change you can believe OBAMA 08!!!
  58. Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes: Kevin McDougald, if you ask every person in prison if they think of themselves as a good person you'd probably get a solid 95% return yes vote.
  59. Jim Q from Halifax, Canada writes: Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes "I've said all along that McCain will win this after Obama sells out. It's beginning now."

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    Too true. Not even a month since Hillary went down, and I already get to to utter those most satisfying of words to my Obamamaniac friends:

    Told you so.

    McCain has a record of fighting for what he believes in, something you can respect whatever you think of his policies. Obama's losing that respect to McCain and will lose the Presidency to him as well.

    At least when Hillary shifted positions, she was cunning about it and never pretended to be above real politics.
  60. sam johnson from Canada writes: obama changed his mind! we don't like that. people must never deviate. stay the course. run on rails. changing your mind is dangerous. stay put. don't move.
    mccain has changed his mind more often than any presidential candidate in history. now i know how some people don't like looking things up and doing a little digging but if you check out his campaign statements over his political career you'll discover he's done it frequently.
    that is the reason so many conservatives have said he's a liberal! they don't trust him and some still will not support him. ask anne coulter.
  61. Tim London from Canada writes: So this is all the change he has been going on about.

    Like the Buddist store owner said "Change must come from within"
  62. Paul F. from Toronto, Canada writes: Jan Burton from Toronto, Canada writes: McCain will win this election EASILY. Why? Iraq. Obama played up his anti-war stance back when the war was going badly. But things have changed in Iraq now. Many of the Sunnis have switched sides and joined the US, the surge has produced results, and casualties are way down. ---- This analysis couldn't be more wrong. First, the election will be run on the economy. The US economy is tanking right now. And the recession will be in all the papers come November. Second, Iraq "stabilization" is a very ephemeral one. There are 4 million Iraqis who remained displaced, because of ethnic cleansing or the violence in general of the insurgency and US counter attacks. That's out of a total population of 30 million people. Also, it is clear that the oil deals just signed are dirty. They are no bid contracts and basically the deals all went to "coalition" country oil companies. That is not going to sit well with many iraqis. On top of this, there is no agreement on how to share oil revenues. Lastly, the main fighters in the insurgency, the sunni militias, have been temporarily bought off by the US. And the Iraqi military remains infiltrated by shia militias. In other words, none of the fundamental issues feeding the civil war/insurgency are basically resolved, they have been put on hold. And the surge is costing the us 3 billion a day. the joke is that the right wing already wants to complain about how obama will put up the deficit to create such elementary things like universal health care and to fix the other problems the bush administration left behind. I think obama needs to see himself more as a "Reagan of the Left" than another Bill Clinton. If he chooses the latter course, he will not move American in the right direction.
  63. Older'n Dirt from Belleville, Canada writes: Looks like the looney left is losing one of its champions to the dreaded middle of the roaders and conservatives. Barack is obviously smarter than some gave him credit for. Let's see, Didn't support gay marriage, now supports gun ownership rights, now supports Bush's telecom security measures, may not really pull troops out of Iraq but will listen to his military advisers....just like Bush. Doesn't like rednecks but is actively courting their votes. The more things change the more familiar they become!
  64. Joe Calgarian from Calgary, Canada writes: What?!?!? I thought he was supposed to be the second coming of Christ. I guess he's (like I've been saying from day one) just another case of same crap different pile. Oh, and Obama can take his protectionism and shove it!
  65. Bohemian Grove Club Member from Canada writes: LMAO!!!!
  66. bob london from Canada writes: Appeared = Fact?

    He has not changed his position but the media has started reading and finding comprehension and writing difficult. Story Time.
  67. Philip McRae from Vancouver, Canada writes: What's really funny is the amount of emotive energy Canadian lefties have invested in the Obamamania. No seriously. It's funny to read your asbackwards defence of Obama's "shift" to the right. Like your in control or something. Uncle festus from Mississauga totally stroked out.
  68. The Globe and Mail censors free speech from Canada writes: Obama's a chameleon. He's a talker, not a leader. If elected, he will be the worst president in US history. And that's saying a lot.
  69. Paul Thompson from Canada writes: Many Americans are conviced that letting people have as many guns as they want and that having a military budget that dwarfs that of all other countries, far out of proportion to any concievable threat, are good things. Obama knows this and must court some of their votes to attain power. It sucks, but it's called incrementalism. He would still be a vast improvement over the pathetic lying and self-serving crew that have run things in the USA for the past 8 years and have screwed things up so badly.
  70. sam johnson from Canada writes: reading the comments would lead you to think this was nov.05/08.
    the obama haters are just delirious! beside themselves with joy. obama's finished! myoo yah!

    we bombed pearl harbor! america is finished!

    good luck and keep that hatred hot.
  71. Martha K. from Canada writes: Senator Clinton's platform was very much to the centre and Senator Obama's was very much to the left BEFORE he secured the nomination. I wondered how he'd do it, considering that the extreme left could not win the election for him on their own.

    Still he ploughed on under the guise of big CHANGE. Pushed Hillary to the side with that big change agenda, mostly driven by young, galvanizing type go-getters like many of my friend's kids who truly believed in him and his message.

    Now with Senator Clinton out of the way, he's moving in on her agenda and echoing many of the decisions she had carried all along - as a centrist.

    Senator McCain is hardly being as disingenuous - his was not a platform of change but reform. Senator Obama on the other hand, has misled in a sense - because where is the change? Where is the "I will not do things the way others do them" type of attitude? I feel badly for Senator Clinton who probably saw this coming all along.
  72. Zuri Usoa from Canada writes: It doesn't matter who the US votes in as president. Most people who follow the news and politics of that country know there is very little difference these days between Republicans and Democrats. Until the political system opens up to other parties and becomes more proportional, we will continue to see pandering like this by all presidential candidates.
  73. SN Dream from Canada writes: sam johnson from Canada writes: obama changed his mind! we don't like that. people must never deviate. stay the course. run on rails. changing your mind is dangerous. stay put. don't move.
    mccain has changed his mind more often than any presidential candidate in history. now i know how some people don't like looking things up and doing a little digging but if you check out his campaign statements over his political career you'll discover he's done it frequently.
    that is the reason so many conservatives have said he's a liberal! they don't trust him and some still will not support him. ask anne coulter.
    ----------------------------------------
    Yes, people change , everyone does and it usually for the better. But how long had the primary finish? It's only about 1 month, that's awfully short time to do a 180 degree turn on so many issue. The worst is that he run on a campaign on being a new kind of politician, this make him a larger hypocrite than those he attacked for the last 2 years.

    McCain is a not a evangelical conservatives, he never had good relationship with those agent of intolerant. Beside, to those fundamentalist, everyone else look like a liberal to them. (Unless you are mos~lem fundamentalist, then they think you are a terrorist)
  74. Joe Simpson from New York, United States writes: This whole article is sort of flawed. First, it's title is deceptive. "Obama has little choice..."? Obama is leading in the swing states and creating new battlegrounds in the West. The truth is if Obama loses this election to McCain, at this point, it would be one of biggest upsets in American history. In fact, completely shocking. Secondly, one can make the arguement about him flip-flopping on FISA. Sure. But his position on guns or Iraq has not changed even slightly. He has always proclaimed support for 2nd-Amendment rights but stricter gun-control in urban centers. As far as public financing, no one even cares, it is just so minor. And he'd have to be an idiot to not to "refine" his policy after visiting Iraq. Afterall, he's always said "We have to be as careful getting out of Iraq as Bush was careless getting into Iraq". What is the flip-flop, pray-tell? Debate after debate, he has said that circumstances when he is elected will help dictate his decision. Besides, "refine" is just about as a nebulous word as one can find. Does it mean, he will bring troops home earlier or later? Faster or Differently? Will he try appeal to the UN? Who knows. All I know is, you gotta wonder who is going to win an election when one guy is making the headlines for simply saying "refine". McCain couldn't make a headline if he was caught philandering with hookers. That's the difference.
  75. Robert Dryburgh from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada writes: The headline should read Obama Drifts Towards Anything That Will Get Him Elected.
  76. Rocky Balboa from United States writes: Obama is a political panderer like most other politicians. A lot more Americans are going to see a significant increase in their Federal taxes if his tax policies are adopted in 2009. It could be a professional athlete who has a few good years with the pros, before taking a menial job in the 'hood. It could be a widow who sells her family home of 35 years and realizes a one-time capital gain well above the $250,000 home owner's exclusion for single taxpayers. That year, she could face much higher taxes on her home sale, her pension income and her dividend income. It could be a middle aged professional building her practice and trying to pay off student loans while also setting aside money for retirement. In high cost areas of the US, $250,000 in annual income isn't all that much, especially if you have children in a big city private school. It is not unheard of for doctors in their 40's still paying off student loans from medical school. American voters are faced with two uninspiring candidates from the major parties. The system is stacked against third party candidates. Voters expecting some sort of miracle in 2009 will be sadly disappointed. But the poverty pimps should have a few good years, as social programs are stepped up. And the defense contractors won't starve either. Obama is not talking about shutting down military bases in Japan, Korea and Germany. He may even do something that Republicans have been afraid to do: call for a resumption of the draft. After all, everyone knows the US military is overextended. It would something like Nixon going to China.
  77. sam johnson from Canada writes: sn dream - "...180 degree change on so many issues." 180 degrees?
    that's a complete turn. that's like saying "i'm against the death penalty"and then later saying "i'm for the death penalty."

    would you mind showing where he's made 180 degree change on so many issues?
  78. Crusty Curmudgeon from Ottawa, Canada writes: Personally -- all I expect from a politician in Canada is some degree of amusement -- since I know that whatever they do is is just show-boating anyway and that they are eunichs on the world stage. In the US, I expect someone who is intelligent and can actually articulate their position without say "um" twenty times or "nucular". I also expect the leader of the free world to actually learn from their mistakes and from additional information that is presented to them which they previously did not have. In other words their opinions mature over time if they learn something new. I believe that Obama fits the bill in terms of my requirements (if not that of the US Marine corps). Given the past 8 years, the US has been subjected to the ramblings of what in essence has been a cross between Oppie, Howdy Doody and Alfered E Neuman. Pardon the spelling. I can not describe the degree of revulsion I feel when I see "the Shrub" on TV. I have literally had to turn the channel. In McCain, I see a man who is not revolting but who unfortunately is not in control of his faculties at all time. Talk about lying to suit the occasion!!! -- He has no room to throw stones at anyone. (Even if I give him the benefit of the doubt about his service record). But then again -- he is a politician -- so why would he do anything else?
  79. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: Conservatives LOVE McCain, esp. the religious ones.

    His hypocrisy fits in so well with their own.
  80. sam johnson from Canada writes: zuri usoa from canada - ya smacked the home run! right on. many have observed "there ain't a dime's worth of difference between the republicans and the democrats."
  81. sam johnson from Canada writes: crusty curmudgeon - i know we're supposed to be jumping up and down on each other on these threads but i have to say i feel the same as you about dubyah. this chimp can't say anything without his trainer and his huge loose leaf notes.
    he's been in office for over seven years and hasn't "matured" in the least. a total embarrassement.
  82. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: zun: That quote re: the dime came from Gov. George Wallace, who ran as the presidential candidate of the American Independent Party in 1968.

    It may have been the only time in his life when he was right about something.
  83. Third Rail from Some Burgh, Canada writes: Funny a few months back most on the right decried Obama as a marxist...now that he's solidified that base and is moving towards independents those on the right decry him as flip floppin'.

    It's called politics folks. There are no moral absolute just constituencies to be won. Those who labelled Obama the messiah are seeing just how skillful a politican he really is. Nobody rises through the ranks this quickly without knowing how to play the game.

    Well done Senator Obama. Those who underestimate you do so at their own peril.
  84. City Pig from Toronto, Canada writes: Is Obama related to Dalton McGuinty?
  85. Mike H from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada writes: The Globe and Mail censors free speech from Canada writes: Obama's a chameleon. He's a talker, not a leader. If elected, he will be the worst president in US history. And that's saying a lot. "

    You actually expect him to do worse than the current president? Hell, a monkey throwing darts at a dart board would be a better president than Bush. At least the monkey would get things right some of the time. There is no way Obama will be the worst president in US history. Bush has that title all locked up.
  86. Rick Clarke from Edmonton, Canada writes: Change??? YES WE CAN !!!
  87. Mary Smith from United States writes:
    Professional30smth

    All the polls DO NOT have Obama leading by a wide margin.

    Gallup, June 25 - TIED at 45%.
  88. Jeff Pritchard from Canada writes: Must be difficult trying to win votes from an uneducated, morally vacuous, zealously religious, gun-toting electorate.
  89. Mary Smith from United States writes:

    Mr Justice LOVES Liberals. His stupidity fits perfectly with them.
  90. Mary Smith from United States writes:

    Jeff Pritchard

    It obviously isn't difficult for Canada to produce uneducated, morally vacuous, zealously ignorant, inferior people like yourself.
  91. CC Rider from Toronto, Canada, Canada writes: Yes! Yes! Yes! B.O. has been and will always be a joke! He lied, changed his positons, played the race card to get at the Hillary campaign, and it succeeded.....NOW....he has again conpromised his so-called principles to gain a different kind of voter......when will the Americans wake up.....all B.O. is...... is a good talker with minimal experience....and it will catch up with him...I hope sooner rather than later........Any American with less than 3-4 years in the Senate (a first term guy or gal) and runs for President (and possibly wins) is not living the American dream....he is living the American joke if that is all it takes to achieve the highest office in the U.S. of A. YOU CAN FOOL THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME BUT IT SEEMS YOU CAN FOOL THE AMERICANS ALL THE TIME!!!!! B.O. has missed his calling...he should be a preacher right beside Wright.
    • Posted 04/07/08 at 11:46 AM EST |